Combined cap and extruding plunger for caulking compound cartridge



Oct. 7, 1958 Filed Oct. 28, 1957 W. R. HOSLER COMBINED CAP AND EXTRUDING PLUNGER FOR CAULKING COMPOUND CARTRIDGE TTONEK nited States Patent O COMBINED CAP AND EXTRUDIN G PLUNGER FOR CAULKING COMPOUND CARTRIDGE Wallace Rand Hosler, Independence, Mo., assignor to` Battenfeld Grease & Oil Corp., 'Kansas City, Mo., a y

corporation of Missouri Application ct0ber28, v1957, SerialNo. 692,651

3 Claims. (Cl. `Z22-386.5)

disengaged from its initial locked position, will serve as a plunger by means of which the caulking compound `Inaybe forced-from the tube.

Another important object of the instant Iinvention is to provide a -combination closure cap assembly and plunger having a `series of ribs on its outer surface for initially holding the cap `in -place Iand also for wiping the inner surface of the tube as `the plunger Vprogresses .along the length thereof.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a combination closure cap assembly and plunger that is flexible whereby the same may be disengaged from its holding means without allowing escape of the compound, and that also, by reason of such exibility, may be constantly maintained in frictional engagement with the inner surface-of the cartridge.

Yet another object of the present invention Vis to provide a device as above'described that, 4while serving as a plunger, is-relativelyfree oat-ing whereby upon release of ram pressure ,the device will recede as a result of the expansion ofthe compound within the tube, and thus by compensating for .theeX-pansion pressure so created, prevent the wasteful flow of excess compound `from (the nozzle of ,the caulking gun.

This application is a continuation-impart -`of my co- `pending tapplication Serial No. 653,009, iiled April 15,

1957, for an invention entitled Combination Qlosure Assembly AAnd Plonger For Caulkiug Complmd Cartridge.

Other objects will become apparent in the specification which follows, and from a study of the appended drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a caulking gun and cartridge having a combination closure assembly and plunger embodying the present invention, parts being broken away for clarity;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross sectional view of the combination closure assembly and plunger mounted within the cartridge;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary cross sectional View similar to Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the combination closure assembly `and plunger as it is being pressurably released from the engaging means;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the combination closure assembly and plunger fully resol wrice 2 leased from the engaging means and-as it is being pushed along the caulking compound cartridge;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the combination closure assembly and plunger mounted within the cartridge and embodying a vmodified form of the invention; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed cross 'sectional view of the assembly shown yin Fig. 6.

As illustrated by the drawing, a standard caulking gun 10 is designed to receive a cartridge or tube 12 which is lled `with caulking compound 14. Such a cartridge is usually Vsold and shipped as a separate -unit and since the compound vis placed therein under pressure, it must be kept tightly sealed until placed in use.

'The present invention provides device l'which serves as a closure cap to 'seal cartridge f12 Yuntil it is placed in use, as well as serving as Va plunger for forcing `the compound 14 from the tube 12 when in use in connection with gun 10. One end of tube 12 (not shown) is sealed by an element designed to be partially broken away `when the cartridge 12 is put in use and thus allow the compound 14 to be forced through nozzle '18l of gun 10 through the application o f pressure by means of a ram 20.

As best shown by Fig. 2, the `combination plunger and closure cap assembly or device16, is telescoped within tube 12 at one open end k22 thereof and while serving as Aa closure cap is maintained in a fixed position Vtherein by a projection 24 formed on band 26.

Annular band 26 is looped over end or edge 22 of tube 12 and has `a gripping relationship therewith as a result Aof 'being rebent lupon itself at its outer margin '28 and pressed into the fiber cartridge 12. 4The'looped band 26, from its rebent outer margin 2,8, bears against edge 22, the inner surface 30 of tube 112, and has -formed along its inner margin transversely triangular projection 24.

Tube 12, having -bandl 26 thereon, is adapted to receive and holdin a fixed position device V16 when the `same 'is inserted therewithin. Said device `16 is cup-shaped, has a bottom wall 32, a continuous peripheral side Wall y34, a plurality of ribs `36 circumscribing wall 34 and grooves 58, 40` and 42 forming the ribs 36. A `cavity 44 is formed by bottom 32 and side wall 34 which cavity 44 is adapted to receive Aram 20 when cartridge 12 is #placed in `operating position Ain gun 10.

As ybest illustrated by Fig. y3, when device -16 is-initially `positioned ywithin tube L12, and while serving as aclosure cap, itis releasably maintained in a 'xed posi- `In addition to maintaining dev-ice When cartridge 12 is placed in gun 10 and in a position ready for operation, ram 20 is received by cavity 44 and plate 46 of ram 20 is brought in direct engagement with bottom wall 32. Gun 10 is then actuated and device 16 forced from its position locked in place by projection 24.

Since combination plunger and closure cap 16 is made of a flexible material, such as a suitable plastic the relatively sharp apex edges 48, 50, S2 and 54 of ribs 36 tend to move outwardly as pressure is applied to bottom wall 32. Thus, the flexibility of side wall 34 and the fact that grooves 38, 40 and 42 are transversely triangular, as is projection 24, enables forward apex edges 48 and 50 to be maintained against inner surface 30 as apex edge 52 passes over projection 24. Similarly, the flexible nature of device 16 permits edges 48, 50 and 52 to be held in contact with inner surface 30 as the last of such edges 54 passes over projection 24 during movement of device 16 into tube 12, such movementbeing facilitated by the complemental, triangular shape of grooves 38, 40 and 42 and projection 24. The const ant contact of said edges with the inner surface 32 during such movement prevents any appreciable amount of compound 14 from by-passing device 16 and leaking from tube 12.

When device 16 has fully cleared projection 24 and is serving as a plunger, apex edges 48, 50, 52 and 54 of ribs 36, circumscribing flexible side wall 34, are, as a result of the force exerted on bottom 32, maintained in constant frictional engagement with inner surface 30 of tube 12 while device 16 is traveling the length thereof. Due kto the continuous contact resulting from such exibility, edges 48-54 serve to wipe the inner surface 30 of tube 12 as plunger 16 progresses therealong.

In order to additionally facilitate the passage of edges 48-54 over projection 24 and the movement of device 16 along tube 12, the outer diameter of side wall 34 decreases progressively from apex edge 48 toward bottom 32. As a result of such decrease in diameter and the clearance with tube 12 that lis created thereby, since the leading edge 5 6 of bottom 32 is arcuate, said edge 56 will not cut into or catch on inner surface 30 and impede the movement of device 18 into or along tube 12.

While serving as a plunger, device 16 is relatively freefloating in that it is in no way connected with ram 20 -expand and device 16, being slidable within tube 12,

will move rearwardly against plate 46 and thus compensatefor the expansion of compound 14, thereby preventing such expansion from forcing excess compound through nozzle 18. Also, due to the nature of its construction and the fact that apex edges 48-54 of ribs 36 are'in constant contact with surface 30, when device 16 is forced rearwardly by the expansion of compound 14 due to the release of pressure thereon, no compound is allowed to pass said combination plunger and closure cap 16.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is useful in assuring that plates, such as 46, of various diameters may be accommodated with the result that an equal distribution of the inward force applied through ram 20 will occur when the cap is in use as a plunger.

In the modified form of the invention illustrated in Figs.- 6 and 7, the combination plunger and closure cap assembly, broadly designated by the numeral 116, is telescoped within tube 112 which is exactly the same in structural characteristics as tube 12 illustrated in Figs. l to 5 inclusive. This tube has an annular band 126 disposed in binding relation to the marginal end portion of tube 112 and the aforesaid assembly 116 is held in 4 place thereby, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, prior to the application of extruding force.

The body of the. cup-shaped combination closure and plunger, when made pursuant to the modified form of the invention, has a bottom wall 132, a continuous peripheral side wall 134, and a plurality of annular ribs 136 formed on the outer face of wall 134. The cavity 144 within the cup-shaped body 116 has formed therein a plurality of radial ns 135, each presenting an edge to an operating plate 146, as shown in Fig. 7. Fins extend inwardly from the inner face of the continuous annular side wall 134 a distance less than the radius of the cap and the edge 137 of each n 135 respectively is inclined inwardly and downwardly thus to assist in centering the plate 146 and thereby further insure an even thrust when the gun with which the assembly is employed is brought into use. The short dimension of fins 135, of which there are preferably four arranged in diametrically opposed pairs, insures a exing of theA bottom 132 and side wall 134 to disengage the interlocking parts previously defined.

The material from which cap 16 and 116 is molded or otherwise formed, may be transparent or translucent to permit readily observing the type and color of the material within tube 12 and 112 as the case may be. In practice it has been found that polyethylene is a satisfactory substance having the inherent qualifications of slidably engaging the inner surface of the tube With a minimum amount of frictional resistance yet presenting a positive seal against accidental leakage around the cap when it is forced inwardly under the nuence of plate 146.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cartridge, a tube; and a combination plunger and closure cap telescoped within the. tube and having a plurality of ribs circumscribing the same in wiping engagement with the inner face of the tube, said cap being cup-shaped, presenting a bottom wall and ya side wall, the ribs being on the side wall, the cap being provided with a plurality of radial iins each presenting an edge to an operating plate when the cap is in use as a plunger.

2. In a cartridge as set forth in claim 1, wherein the fins extend inwardly from the inner face of the side Wall of the cap a distance less than the radius of the cap.

3. In a cartridge as set forth in claim 2, wherein the said edge of each iin is inwardly and downwardly inclined.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,299,078 Weiss Apr. 1, 1919 1,318,928 Shields Oct. 14, 1919 2,055,602 Dodge Sept. 29, 1936 2,067,264 Tear Jan. 12, 1937 2,126,424 Tear Aug. 9, 1938 2,196,337 Loweke Apr. 9, 1940 

